Veil of Justice, Shadows of Justice Book 3 (24 page)

He tested, found their link wide open again
and knew she was indeed seeing herself on that sidewalk outside the
Field when the map box was stolen. Feeling her emotions with it now
made his stomach roil, just like the first time he'd seen that
damned security tape. The whole incident proved his point about her
vulnerability – though he wouldn't mention it right now.

He'd told her the truth while she struggled
in the infirmary. He hadn't done anything for her that night. He'd
been oblivious, thanks to her tactic of shutting him out and the
distraction of Lorine's research. He started to tell her all over
again, but she interrupted him.

"I know I scared you. It was the ultimate
failure. I'd proved Daddy right."

"Pardon me? You were attacked, blindsided."
He sighed. "Hell, Cali. We've been through this."

"Shhh. I know." She laid her fingers over his
lips. "I know. I don't really want to revisit it. You just have to
know I'm grateful, okay? It was a low point. My lowest really, but
I'm over it now."

"You just want your dirk back."

She smirked. "That's not all I want."

He skimmed his hand over her curves, drew her
closer. "I bet we can come to terms." His lips nibbled on hers,
teasing, waiting for the invitation. He wasn't disappointed, except
she kept it light when he would've taken it deeper, taken her,
right there in the cool autumn air.

"Terms," she said, determination all over her
face.

He struggled to get the blood back up to his
brain long enough to listen effectively. "Talk."

"I'll show you how I shut you out." She
pressed a hand to his heart when the leaves dropped and he started
to sit up. "I'll show you when we're done with Kristoff. I'd rather
not detach for that. I'd rather stay closer. I think it would make
us stronger as we go forward."

"I disagree. We'd both be more vulnerable."
He didn't want to admit fear pushed him away from the risk.
"Detached we could be more effective. No distractions in our
heads."

"Or hearts," she murmured. She closed her
eyes as if she couldn't bear the sight of him and he felt a
distinct ache in his head. "You should forget about detaching from
me. At least until we have the whole battle plan."

Her precise monotone sounded as dry as the
automated prison recording. Before they'd dumped him into the hole
where he couldn't hear anything. Then she kissed him, rendering him
senseless.

"Speaking of detachment," he said when they
stopped to breathe.

"I wasn't."

He didn't know how she did it, how she made
him smile in the shadow of such dire circumstances, but he rolled
them over, cuffing her wrists over her head with one hand. Her eyes
sparkled, sending a wave of sensual heat rippling through him. He
sent the leaves back into motion as he rolled his hips into the
cradle of her thighs, distracting both of them. Then he thoroughly
plundered her mouth.

It seemed he felt her more here and now than
he had just last night. He couldn't imagine this total distraction,
this all-consuming desire would be an asset anywhere – except
moments like this. He could feel her reactions impact his senses
inside and out, mentally and physically. It was the most
incredible, fascinating effect and he didn't ever want to stop.

With the leaves still dancing around them
like a mobile canopy of coppers they were both lost to the glory of
sensations and sighs.

"Oh! Umm. Excuse me."

The leaves dropped. Nathan jerked back,
annoyed by more of Daniel's bad timing, but he used his body to
block the nephew's view. "What is it?" he asked, glancing at Cali
only to feel his irritation spiked to a new high. She looked
ashamed, with her eyes down as she straightened her hair and
clothing.

"Umm. We got another email from your sister,"
Daniel replied.

Nathan noticed the boy's odd expression was
less judgment, more sadness. He didn't count it as much
improvement. He hopped to his feet and offered his hand to Cali.
Naturally, she refused. He considered a little mental nudge, but
she beat him to it.

"
Later
."

He nodded, falling into step behind them as
they aimed back up the trail to the cabin. His mind was racing
through the possibilities that awaited them. He hoped there was
real news for a change. The fresh air and sunshine helped, the sex
sure didn't hurt, but he was way beyond theories and feeling a
desperate need to get back into action.

Daniel brought them up to speed with the
latest emails from Petra about Kristoff's threat.

"Monument Valley it is," she whispered. He
considered it a victory when she reached for his hand without
thinking about Daniel's opinion. "We can't let him do this. I want
his head on a platter."

"Your wish is my only desire," he growled
with soul deep sincerity. "Will you be able to go back there?"

"Can't wait! It's my turn."

Daniel transferred the emails and file from
Petra to an electronic notebook. "Aunt Cali, I think we should talk
while we drive. It'll be tough to make his deadline."

Nathan held out his hand and wiggled his
fingers for the e-pad. He scrolled through.

"What is it," Cali asked, trying to read over
his shoulder. "That smile is scary."

Nathan dropped every pretense and hoping –
just this once – there was an active connection to Kristoff, he let
the lethal excitement flow freely. Maybe the bastard would get the
message and slip back under the rock he came from.

"It's Gideon," he said, swiveling the e-pad
for Cali. "He's got a lead on transport and supplies." He glanced
up, meeting Cali's intense gaze. "Get your things. Our flight
leaves in less than an hour."

Cali shot him a confident, battle ready smile
of her own. "The only things I need, you have."

Her dirk and sword, of course.

"
Hidden in the car
." Nathan winked at
her and said, "Then let's get on with it."

ELEVEN

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do
all I can? Sun Tzu

Cali was amazed at the efficiency of Petra's
team. She knew they were a family and Petra wouldn't consider
herself the leader, but that was how Cali thought of them. The
dynamics were clear to her as they proceeded. One step leading to
the next, closing in on her moment of vengeance for the lives lost
and the unprecedented suffering.

She'd considered notifying her mother, Daniel
had access she was sure, but she didn't want to risk their safety.
Instead, she changed her clothes, cleaned her weapons and barely
had time to close up the cabin.

A helicopter, piloted by Gideon, dropped from
the sky just fifty minutes after Nathan reunited her with her dirk
and short sword. The flight was brief as they joined everyone at
Kristoff's recently vacated hideout in southern Illinois. When they
landed, she introduced Daniel to the people she knew, and made new
acquaintances from the men Gideon added to their team.

She was feeling a little lost. Everyone had
something to occupy them, but her head was in Monument Valley.
She'd never thought to return, but if she had to go back, to walk
in those ghastly footsteps, she wanted it like this, with her head,
heart and soul dedicated to the battle rather than swamped by
grief.

Gideon and the Commandant were conferring,
heads close, over unmarked crates. She assumed it was weaponry and
ammunition. Nathan had spoken to his sister before disappearing
into the compound, looking for evidence of things she didn't want
to contemplate.

Daniel hovered near Gideon. Not surprising.
He truly was one of the best marksmen the Gairden clan had seen in
recent generations. The boy had surely capitalized on the
opportunity to soak up every bit of information from his father and
uncles – until he'd lost them.

Unable to stop herself, she'd asked Nathan to
keep him away from the center of whatever action they were headed
for. It seemed her nephew was content with that as long as he had
his pick of deadly, long range weapons.

Petra and Jaden had filled her in about what
they'd found – or rather not found – at this place. No one believed
Kristoff spent much time here since the lab was so basic. According
to the analysts on the Commandant's payroll, the lab might have
been producing 'juice' but nothing more complex. The space was too
bare and the storerooms had been empty for awhile.

"I'm surprised they didn't torch it on their
way out," Jaden said, not for the first time, rejoining Cali.
Together they watched as Petra walked the perimeter once more,
trying to pick up any psychic remnants the juiced soldiers may have
left behind.

Cali couldn't take the prolonged silence.
"Why would he send the video of this place? There has to be more to
this. He wants us – me – in the valley."

"A challenge, maybe?" Jaden replied
uncertainly. "He knows we'd involve the Commandant, who would
provide us with manpower and any experts we might need."

"He has to know we won't just let him come
back here again."

"So it's a form of bragging?"

But Cali shook her head. "It's a ruse."

"To what end?"

"Maybe he gains something if we miss the
deadline." Cali had been wondering about this stop since Daniel
first shared the video. "Who has numbers on the soldiers Kristoff
culled for his private force?"

"Impossible to know." Jaden shrugged. "That's
why Nathan went undercover. Kristoff was a professional body
snatcher. He cheated the system, falsified records, and otherwise
made it impossible to know the actual numbers."

"The map box was here," she muttered.

"Pardon?"

"Just thinking." Cali was sure the box had
been here, but she didn't have proof and could hardly articulate
how she knew. "
Nathan? Have you found anything?
"

She waited, but he didn't answer, so she
spoke to Jaden. "Discipline or not, I don't think we're up against
as many as he showed us."

"Because," Jaden prompted.

Cali had plenty of experience living with men
and they made an impact on their surroundings, no matter their
training, especially if they'd gotten comfortable in that
environment. She was about to share that when Petra walked over,
brows drawn, mouth tight.

"It doesn't fit," she said, echoing Cali's
thoughts. She paused for a sip from her water bottle. "Either the
men are zombies – which don't exist – or they weren't really
here."

"None at all?" Jaden asked, incredulous.

"Well, a few men were here, of course.
There's physical evidence for that. But there's only enough psychic
signature for a dozen or so…"

"Cali thinks it was all for show."

She had the usual, overexposed and naked
feeling as Petra studied her. She didn't breathe until Pet spoke
again.

"I believe Cali's right. But wouldn't he
think that such a display of force would discourage us from
visiting?"

"We're here, aren't we?"

Petra shot her sister a harsh glare.
"Obviously. With far more resources…"

It seemed to click in every head at
once…they'd overcommitted and might be in grave danger right
now.

Jaden yelled to Brian, while Cali and Petra
connected to their men on a mental plane. Everyone surged into
motion, backing away to clear the area. It was almost anticlimactic
standing near the two military buses waiting for the building to
self destruct.

Nervous laughter and grumbling made the
rounds of the fifty plus soldiers, but Cali shivered with an
adrenaline rush. Nathan wasn't with them. He was still inside.

"
Nathan
!" When he didn't answer, fury
erupted. He'd done his ridiculous detachment. Oh, she wished him to
the devil.

Except a very real devil of a man had set
this all in motion. Instinct had her looking more closely at the
compound set up, looking for the angles Kristoff used to fake his
mobilization video. They were surely being monitored as they stood
here, foolishly waiting on his whim.

If the current theories were on target,
Kristoff knew she and Nathan were close and he wanted her alive,
though not out of any sort of compassion.

She was damned tired of being a puppet on
Kristoff's string. Blanking her mind, she edged away from the
crowd, focused solely on her goal. Into the building. Find Nathan.
Drag the man away from his own stubborn stupidity.

One more stride and she'd have enough of a
head start.

Then she bolted, ignoring the shouts behind
her.

Cali threw herself through the main door,
letting it slam behind her. "Nathan!" she called, her voice
dangerously sweet. If he had any sense, he'd restore their link and
heed her warning.

"He's watching us," she added.

"What the hell?" Nathan exploded. "You
shouldn't be here."

She followed his voice to an office just off
the main door. "Same goes," she shot back.

He ignored her, continuing to scan documents
spread across a work table. "What have you found?" No answer. She
tried logic. "We need to get on the road if we're going to make the
deadline." Stubborn, stubborn man. "Talk to me."

"Later."

She yanked a chair around and plopped into
it. "Fair enough. Just listen then." She pulled her dirk free and
toyed with it. "You're a jerk and you're making a mistake shutting
me out. For instance, I wouldn't have to waste the energy to track
you down if you'd just stay connected."

"All that crap about staying out of your
head, now I am, and you're still not happy."

He should've slapped her. It would've hurt
less. She put the dirk away so she wouldn't flay him. Standing she
said, "I don't know what you've found, but good luck with it. If we
both survive look me up when you're done."

She left the office, left him behind. If
Kristoff meant to destroy the compound, he had ample opportunity
and Nathan had proven himself a survivor. It was time she did the
same. It's not like they had a future together whether they
survived tomorrow or not. They had individual agendas they needed
to address individually.